Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5–8)
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Courage, brother! do not stumble, Though thy path is dark as night; There’s a star to guide the humble— Trust in God and do the right. Let the road be long and dreary, And its ending out of sight, Foot it bravely—strong or weary— Trust in God and do the right.
Perish policy and cunning, Perish all that fears the light; Whether losing, whether winning, Trust in God and do the right. Trust no party, church, or faction, Trust no leader in the fight; But in every word and action Trust in God and do the right.
Trust no forms of guilty passion— Friends can look like angels bright; Trust no custom, school, or fashion— Trust in God and do the right. Some will hate thee, some will love thee; Some will flatter, some will slight; Cease from man and look above thee— Trust in God and do the right.
So take courage! do not stumble, When the path is dark as night; Find the star that guides the humble— Trust in God and do the right. Firmest rule, and safest guiding, Inward peace and inward light; Star upon our path abiding— Trust in God and do the right.
In John Bunyan’s allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and his companion, Faithful, must travel through the town of Vanity on their Way to the Celestial City. The town represents the conceit and craftiness of the world in its opposition against God as it dresses up sin to appear desirable and appealing. The merchants at Vanity Fair cry out in an attempt to entice the pilgrims to set their affections on the things of the world. But Christian and Faithful have found something more valuable and more precious than anything this world can offer. When they are asked what they would buy, they respond, “We buy the truth.”
Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23)
The truth we hold dear is the Word of God.
The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160)
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17).
If we are to find the way to life and peace and joy, we must tune out the noise of this world and listen intently to God in His Word. Christ alone is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Only He has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
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Two Voices Cry Out to Be Heard
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent” (Proverbs 1:10).
“Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares” (Proverbs 1:20).
Two voices cry out to be heard; Take heed, my soul, and listen well. For only one voice leads to life, The other down to death and hell.
The voice of sinners fills the streets, There on the innocent they prey. Take heed, my soul, do not consent, Lest you with them be cast away.
The voice of wisdom cries aloud Above the din of sin’s deceit. “How long, you simple, will you choose The evil way, the scoffer’s seat?”
It’s wisdom’s voice I long to hear To guide my steps which way to go. Her words of warning, I would heed; Her wealth of knowledge, I would know.
Lord, help me find the righteous way; Guide me in ev’ry thought and choice. For You alone have words of life, Atune my heart to love Your voice.
Let me hear clearly wisdom’s call; Tune out the noise of sin’s allure. Listen intently to God’s Word And there in Christ find rest secure.
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How Dear and Treasured Is the Church
“If I delay, [I write so that] you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
How dear and treasured is the church, With voices joined in praise and prayers, For God has made us one in Christ, To share our sorrows, joys and cares.
Entrusted with the truth of God, Called out to make the gospel known, We boldly as His church proclaim: There’s grace and hope in Christ alone!
God fashions us as living stones; Assembled as His dwelling place. Though we were dead, He gives us life, Each soul a miracle of grace.
Built as a buttress of the truth, A pillar rising to the sky, God sets His church before the world, His Word and name to magnify.
To all the world we testify, Our lives display in word and deed The matchless worth of knowing Christ, The boundless depth of our great need.
Brought near to God by Christ’s shed blood, Loved and adopted as His own, A household built upon the Word, With Christ Himself the Cornerstone.
Built on this Rock, the church will stand, The gates of hell shall not prevail, All who are Christ’s shall be raised up, The Word of God will never fail.
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Now May the God of Peace A prayer for sanctification in the fight against sin
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Lord, I desire Your will My heart yearns to obey Though daily I am faced with sin Enticing me away
So, help me rise each day Battle and war with sin I long to see You face to face And final vict’ry win
Lord, You have so designed This fight with sin in me That as I struggle, watch and pray I learn humility
So, help me to obey Holiness to pursue Deepen repentance when I fail Strengthen my faith in You
I rest within the hope Your Spirit dwells in me Completing that which was begun So holy I may be
Now may the God of Peace Sanctify me wholly And keep me blameless ‘til the day Christ comes in victory
Life is filled with many perplexing realities. It seems all too brief. It is tainted by sin. It is marred with suffering. Along with joy, there is sorrow. Contentment is ever being challenged with longing.
We know that God is good and always does good. He created both time and space as a canvas to display His glory. He made the heavens and the earth and declared them to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). He crafted the world with beauty and wonder.
Yet, as we look at the world around us, we see trials and troubles. We experience sorrow and pain. We know that God is not the author of sin, but why would He allow sin and suffering to enter His “very good” creation? How could the presence of evil (and its final defeat) possibly bring about, in God’s design and purpose, the fullness of His glory and our greatest good?
This hymn wrestles with such questions and points toward a vital truth. This world is not all there is. This life is fleeting. We were made for much more. We were made for glory.
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Made for Glory
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
We journey through this life As pilgrims here on earth; Some live for years, some weeks or days, Some never see their birth. But when our journey ends, Our moments, days, or years Will all seem like a vapor when God wipes away our tears.
How short the time we have, How briefly we exist. Compared to all eternity, This life’s a fleeting mist. For glory we were made An everlasting soul, Not just the time this life affords With bodies that grow old.
Why is our time so short And stained with sin and strife? How could a loving God allow Such suff’ring in this life? In kindness God keeps short Our sorrows in this place, Yet through our pain and suffering We come to know His grace
As time moves quickly on, We must not waste a day, But bring our broken, sinful lives To Christ without delay. In Him each day find rest, Refreshment for the soul. For through His suff’ring we are healed, Forgiven, and made whole.
Though heartaches overwhelm And fill our souls with grief, Remember we are sojourners, Our journey will be brief. In glory one day soon We will look back and say: Our faithful God has brought us home, Our tears He’s wiped away
Yes, one day we will be In glory and can say: Our faithful God, He’s brought us home, Our tears He’s wiped away.
“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” (Psalm 39:4–5)
Behold, O Lord, My Days
1. Behold, O Lord, my days are made A handbreadth as their span. Before the noon, my flow’r must fade, The end of ev’ry man.
2. So teach me Lord, to know my end And know that I am frail. To heav’n let all my thoughts ascend And let not earth prevail.
3. What love of earth can keep me here? I hope in You alone. When will You open glory’s gates And call me to Your throne?
4. A stranger in this land am I, A pilgrim far from rest. O be not silent to my cry, My yearning soul’s request.
5. Though I’m exiled from glory’s land, I dwell with glory’s King. My God is ever near at hand; He wakes my voice to sing.
I just added more titles to the growing collection of Hymns for Classical Guitar. New hymn transcriptions include:
To God Be the Glory
This Is My Father’s World
Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
These Hymns for Classical Guitar are arranged to be concise, accessible, and useful for several occasions including preludes and offertories, accompanying congregational singing, or simply playing for your own enjoyment. The sheet music for each hymn is available as a free PDF download.
You are welcome to copy and share these hymns with friends and fellow guitar enthusiasts. Please copy the full page of sheet music with the website address and the “Used by Permission” notice at the bottom (see Permissions).
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5–8).
See Amid the Winter’s Snow
See, amid the winter’s snow, Born for us on earth below, See the tender Lamb appears, Promised from eternal years.
Hail, thou ever blessed morn! Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! Sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Lo, within a manger lies He who built the starry skies: He who, throned in height sublime, Sits amid the cherubim.
Say, ye holy shepherds, say, What your joyful news today? Wherefore have ye left your sheep On the lonely mountain steep?
“As we watched at dead of night, Lo! we saw a wondrous light; Angels singing, peace on earth, Told us of the Savior’s birth.”
Sacred Infant, all divine, What a tender love was thine, Thus to come from highest bliss Down to such a world as this!
Teach, O teach us, holy Child, By thy face so meek and mild, Teach us to resemble thee, In thy sweet humility.
Words by Edward Caswell, 1851 Music by Sir John Goss, 1870
Download free arrangements of this Christmas Hymn:
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, Born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of ev’ry nation, Joy of every longing heart.
2. Joy to those who long to see Thee Day-spring from on high, appear. Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse, Of Thy birth, we long to hear! O’er the hills the angels singing News, glad tidings of a birth; “Go to Him your praises bringing Christ the Lord has come to earth!”
3. Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end. By His life He brings us gladness, Our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend. Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall; This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.
4. Born thy people to deliver, Born a child, and yet a King, Born to reign in us for ever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all-sufficient merit Raise us to thy glorious throne.
“Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus” Words by Charles Wesley, 1744 Hymn Tune: HYFRYDOL (8.7.8.7.D.) Music by Rowland Prichard, 1830
Often in this life we face circumstances that make no sense. Difficulties arise that we don’t expect. Trials come our way that overwhelm our thoughts. Friendships, jobs, ministries, vocations—in which we’ve invested our time and efforts—can vanish. In such times, we need to remember to trust God and acknowledge Him. Though we don’t understand why we must walk through such troubles, we can look to God and know He will guide us. God’s Word tells us:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
God is sovereign and wise. He understands all things and directs all things according to His will. Though we may not understand, we are exhorted to rest our faith in Him (trust in the Lord) and give Him praise (acknowledge Him). Though we may not see the pathway ahead, we are urged to trust Him completely (with all your heart) and praise Him always—in times of sorrow and pain as well as in times of joy (in all your ways).
God is accomplishing and completing His perfect plan. He is at work in ways that are beyond our thoughts and far above our prayers.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)
The following song is a reminder to trust God and give Him praise, even when life doesn’t make sense. We cannot comprehend all He is doing in us and around us. We often don’t know what to think, what to say, and how to pray. But our God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” His ways are sure. His Word is true. We need only watch with eyes of faith. Behold! His perfect plan will indeed unfold.
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He Does All Things Well
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21).
God is faithful, God is near. He’ll not leave you, So do not fear.
All around you, Everyday, He is working, So watch and pray.
With eyes of faith, Look around, behold. His perfect plan Will indeed unfold. Far beyond our thoughts, More than we can tell, Far above our prayers, He does all things well.
God is sovereign, God is wise. Don’t be downcast, Just lift your eyes.
All that happens Serves His will, Even hard things, So trust Him still.
With eyes of faith, Look around, behold. His perfect plan Will indeed unfold. Far beyond our thoughts, More than we can tell, Far above our prayers, He does all things well.
When the changes comes, He knows what is best. When you’re beaten down, He will give you rest.
When you’re tossed and turned, He’ll steadfast remain. When the wound is deep, He will heal your pain.
When the door is closed, He will show the way. When the path grows dark, He shines bright as day.
With eyes of faith, Look around, behold. His perfect plan Will indeed unfold. Far beyond our thoughts, More than we can tell, Far above our prayers, He does all things well.
Yes, wait and see What the Lord will do. His ways are sure And His Word is true. Far beyond our thoughts, More than we can tell, Far above our prayers, He does all things well.
